Investing in and developing young leaders within NSW/ACT
The PULSE team are embarking on a new thing.
After consulting with Presbyteries and congregations, we knew supporting and growing young leaders is a high priority for our Synod. This wasn’t just about enabling youth leaders or helping young people understand the systems of the Church, but about growing young leaders who can offer leadership in a wide variety of ministry areas. The PULSE team are looking to grow them to be resilient in this time of change for the Church, give them safe spaces to experiment in worship and mission, and connect them together to grow their relationships with God and each other.
Across 2020 we’re running a pilot project called the Young Leader’s Training Initiative (YLTI) where we meet with a small group of 10 young adults who are at different stages on their leadership journey and working together with them as a cohort to encourage and develop them and their gifts and skills. It will involve meeting as a group once a month through to November and focusing in on specific stages of growing as a leader. Then there’s some intentional study connected to it through the United Theological College (UTC), allowing them to take part in the Living Our Values course, audit a subject, or start studying towards their Diploma of Ministry.
It’s a new idea and partnership with UTC, and one we’re really pleased that the young adults involved are keen to be a part of. It really does feel like we’re building the plane as we fly it!
We met for the first time on Monday and it was so important to us to hear their hopes and desires as they seek to become better leaders within the life of our movement. Their input will help us shape a robust program that we intend to open wider in 2021 to include young leaders from across the Synod.
Please pray with us as we launch into this new thing, and especially for the amazing young adults involved. Pray that God would continue to shape and grow them as the church invests in who they are and encourages them to be open to how God might be calling them to take part in his mission. You might also like to start thinking now about who are the young adults you would like to tap on the shoulder for the 2021 cohort.
Molk is the Senior Field Officer (North), and responsible for young adult ministry as a part of the PULSE team.
